Struggle with understanding Christianity

1watchman

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Most of my life it seems I have struggled with understanding christianity. I want to understand first in my mind, understand how it works. But I seem to be only left with an existential leap in the dark. I am not sure why this perhaps because of philosophy or theology I read. I was in strong reaction to how I understood calvinistic theology even as a kid. Maybe I didn't understand it - I don't remember but I did have discussions about it. I think I later read Kierkegarrd and Barth and Bultmann, and accepted some of that, but I felt that left me without spiritual kinship to my dad, who was a missionary, I just felt my dad was of a whole different outlook spiritually. So I went someway in the modernist direction, while my dad remained I suppose in the Bible believing camp.

My dad passed away many years ago, my mother is still alive, but on in years, and at times we have discussions in which I sometimes press her for an answer on some question about the Bible.

This is the point of my thread - I have been told growing up to believe the Bible, and that seems to mean simply believe what it says (however some writers tell me I should try to be persuaded that the Bible is true first before I believe - but its truth was not really in question for my parents. But if I ask about a verse no one can answer, except by saying that they would need to read that portion of scripture again.

So it happened tonight I was talking about several things and I went on to the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats and the verse "...whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." And I asked "Who does that refer to, who is Jesus talking about here when he says the least of these brothers and sisters of mine?"

Now its easy to go and look up that verse in a commentary and see what they say, and I have done that sometimes, but I tend to not stop at one commentary and end up with five answers!!!!

But who are the brothers and sisters Jesus speaks about?

You see it feels like I am expected at times to take a blind leap without understanding. I don't think this is a "salvation" verse. But I've got the impression that as far as salvation its a case of "woe be to you, if you move an inch without the grace of God, or if you make faith a work." etc.

God doesn't seem real to me, I know there was a time long ago when I was fearful of God, but I don't know, I think I accepted reality was secular at some point.

When one talks about "believing the Bible", as you say; they are (or should be) meaing to also be saying: "rightly dividing the Word of Truth", friend, as God tells us. An earnest seeker needs to read the four Gospels in the New Testament FIRST to learn about salvation of their soul and assurance of Heaven. Have you ever read John 3; John 14; Romans 8; etc. ---and all the Gospels?
One can then also read the Epistles to learn about Church Truth and the Christian life. Religious thoughts is not what God has to say, but holding to HIS Word as given us!

If you would like some help with this, feel free to write me personally at Conversation page herein and we can chat over such things. -1watchman
 
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Faithful777

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Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psalm 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:



Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.





Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.




Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
 
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Presbyterian Continuist

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Most of my life it seems I have struggled with understanding christianity. I want to understand first in my mind, understand how it works. But I seem to be only left with an existential leap in the dark. I am not sure why this perhaps because of philosophy or theology I read. I was in strong reaction to how I understood calvinistic theology even as a kid. Maybe I didn't understand it - I don't remember but I did have discussions about it. I think I later read Kierkegarrd and Barth and Bultmann, and accepted some of that, but I felt that left me without spiritual kinship to my dad, who was a missionary, I just felt my dad was of a whole different outlook spiritually. So I went someway in the modernist direction, while my dad remained I suppose in the Bible believing camp.

My dad passed away many years ago, my mother is still alive, but on in years, and at times we have discussions in which I sometimes press her for an answer on some question about the Bible.

This is the point of my thread - I have been told growing up to believe the Bible, and that seems to mean simply believe what it says (however some writers tell me I should try to be persuaded that the Bible is true first before I believe - but its truth was not really in question for my parents. But if I ask about a verse no one can answer, except by saying that they would need to read that portion of scripture again.

So it happened tonight I was talking about several things and I went on to the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats and the verse "...whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." And I asked "Who does that refer to, who is Jesus talking about here when he says the least of these brothers and sisters of mine?"

Now its easy to go and look up that verse in a commentary and see what they say, and I have done that sometimes, but I tend to not stop at one commentary and end up with five answers!!!!

But who are the brothers and sisters Jesus speaks about?

You see it feels like I am expected at times to take a blind leap without understanding. I don't think this is a "salvation" verse. But I've got the impression that as far as salvation its a case of "woe be to you, if you move an inch without the grace of God, or if you make faith a work." etc.

God doesn't seem real to me, I know there was a time long ago when I was fearful of God, but I don't know, I think I accepted reality was secular at some point.
There is a big difference between having religion with a Christian badge, and actually meeting and knowing the Saviour Himself.
 
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Guojing

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When one talks about "believing the Bible", as you say; they are (or should be) meaing to also be saying: "rightly dividing the Word of Truth", friend, as God tells us. An earnest seeker needs to read the four Gospels in the New Testament FIRST to learn about salvation of their soul and assurance of Heaven. Have you ever read John 3; John 14; Romans 8; etc. ---and all the Gospels?
One can then also read the Epistles to learn about Church Truth and the Christian life. Religious thoughts is not what God has to say, but holding to HIS Word as given us!

If you would like some help with this, feel free to write me personally at Conversation page herein and we can chat over such things. -1watchman

I personally would not start with the 4 gospel accounts in the NT because Jesus was still speaking to Israel only, under the Law (Matthew 15:24)
 
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James_Lai

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I personally would not start with the 4 gospel accounts in the NT because Jesus was still speaking to Israel only, under the Law (Matthew 15:24)

Very true, Jesus said He was sent to save only the lost sheep of Israel.
 
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Guojing

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Very true, Jesus said He was sent to save only the lost sheep of Israel.

God always had the whole world in mind but as he stated to Abraham, the entire world will be blessed thru his physical seed (Genesis 12:3).

That was the prophetic timetable, Israel the nation had to first be saved before the gentiles could be reached. Jesus first coming was to fulfill prophecy (Romans 15:8)
 
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1watchman

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I personally would not start with the 4 gospel accounts in the NT because Jesus was still speaking to Israel only, under the Law (Matthew 15:24)

He was speaking ABOUT Israel at first, AND to the whole world. If we ignore the Gospels, we will miss the fundamental truths of salvation and hope for all mankind. One cannot be saved by religion, but by the Gospel truth (note John 3; John 14; Romans 8; etc). We learn about eternal hope in the Gospels; and Church truth in the Epistles. Wise Christians will discern this and know the mind of God for us today.
 
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ldonjohn

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Very true, Jesus said He was sent to save only the lost sheep of Israel.

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

This says Whosoever believeth; does not say whosoever is Jewish and believeth.

John
 
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